The current trend for fast, disposable fashion is simply unsustainable so we joined four young campaigners as they visited Marks & Spencer’s HQ to quiz their top team of experts about what one of the biggest and best-known brands on the high street is doing to protect the environment and combat climate change.
The young campaigners, Ella, Billy, Eviva and Ava, aged 9-12, asked a host of probing questions to a panel of experts at M&S.
Eviva and Billy questioned Rebecca Garner, Marks & Spencer kidswear assistant designer, on what steps the store is taking to ensure its clothing line is sustainable.”Are the majority of your clothes completely sustainable – and if not are you working towards that?” Eviva asked.
“We have some big commitments that we’re working on,” said Rebecca. “One that we just achieved in March is that all the cotton for our clothing fabrics is now more sustainably sourced, and going forward it always will be. It’s definitely on everyone’s agenda.”
“We wanted to make sure that everything about the swimwear (made from recycled plastic bottles) was sending the same message, whether that was the fibre it’s made from, the printing process and actually what was on the outside as well (swimwear slogan is ‘Ocean Vibes’)” answered Rebecca.
Ella, who is 11, told The Big Issue: “I went on the climate change march because I think it’s important children have a say in what’s going to happen in our future.”
Ava, nine, said: “It’s really important to help the planet because if adults are trying and it isn’t working we should try to do it instead.”
The four also quizzed M&S on its vegan clothing line, protecting tiger populations, and ensuring clothes don’t end up straight in the landfill.
Read the full feature only in this week’s Big Issue, available from your local vendor today, or over on The Big Issue Shop
